Flex circuit connector assembly and method for manufacturing the same

Claim 1

A flex circuit connector assembly comprising: A. a high density flex circuit having multiple layers of electrical leads interconnected to at least one electrical contact pad located on a contact side of a male contact portion, said male contact portion having: i. a first and second row of contact pads in which at least one pad of said first row is interconnected to a pad in the second row, ii. alignment holes for insuring said flex circuit is folded at a predetermined location between said rows to form said male contact portion at one end of said flex circuit; and iii. a slot for receiving an alignment key; B. an edge connector having a female socket for receiving the male contact portion to electrically interconnect the contact pads to mating contacts disposed in the female socket, said edge connector further having i. means for mounting it to another wired circuit and ii. a key formed in the female socket of said edge connector for aligning said first and second rows of contact pads with said mating female contacts when said male contact portion is inserted into said female socket; and c. a spacer inserted in the fold of the flex circuit, said spacer having a thickness that insures a secure fit with said male contact portion when it is inserted into the female socket of said edge connector.